Today I got the opportunity to do something I never dreamed of before I started blogging. I got to go behind the scenes for a tour of Cirque Du Soleil Toruk The First Flight which premieres in Ottawa tonight. I woke up before the rest of the family from the excitement and impatiently waited until it was time to leave and head to Canadian Tire Centre for the tour.
Upon our arrival, we were handing our media passes and brought inside to watch the performers rehearse for tonight’s show. Though all we saw was grey staging everywhere we were told that the audience will never see it. Throughout the show projections of Pandora are projected onto the staging. I am excited to see that transformation tonight.
After getting to watch the rehearsals and take as many photos as our fingers would let us it was time to head backstage. Our first stop was the area that stores the puppets used in the show. Did you know that two of the puppets are from the movie Avatar and all other puppets were approved by Avatar director James Cameron?
Just as we thought we were done in the puppet area we got a special surprise. The puppeteers were about to take Toruk out for a test flight. We were only allowed to stand in one area so it is not the best video but I did manage to take a short video of this special glimpse behind the scenes of Toruk – The First Flight.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUyEANMID_Q?rel=0]While watching Toruk take his test flight I also got to witness just how much the cast becomes a family. To see them hugging and singing while getting ready for the flight was a special moment for me. They really are a family. Which is to be expected being on tour together.
Our next and final stop was the costume area. I don’t know what I was expecting for this part of the tour. Having seen Cirque shows in the past and knowing all the crazy costumes involved I guess I expected chaos. To see how well everything is stored and labeled was a surprise for me. Then again I guess it needs to be in order for the show to run smoothly.
The body suits are work by every performer. They all have their own bodysuits and then use hats and other props to finish off their costume. We got to get up close and personal with the costumes in the costume area. The amount of detail put into each piece is amazing.
Close up of some of the hats used in Toruk the First Flight.
I was already excited to get to bring the boys to see Cirque Du Soleil Toruk The First Flight tonight but I am even more excited now that I have been on a backstage tour. I am looking forward to witnessing everything come together for the audience to journey into the land of Pandora.
To learn more about Cirque Du Soleil Toruk The First Flight and to buy tickets for any of the Ottawa performances visit my preview post I wrote last month Cirque du Soleil TORUK ~ The First Flight Coming to Ottawa.